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Water Filtration & Antimicrobials
Introduction
Infection by microbial pathogens in medical environments such as hospitals and doctor’s offices is a continued concern, especially as pathogens increasingly become resistant to available antibiotics and disinfectants. Patients, especially the young and elderly, are particularly vulnerable to infections that are difficult to treat. Similarly, drinking water is susceptible to pathogenic microbial contamination and must undergo multi-phased and expensive filtration to ensure it is fit for consumption. Additionally, non-pathogenic fouling of water is extremely costly not only to water reclamation and turbine-based energy generation, but also to maritime industries. Combined, these three areas make up markets of significant size that will continue to grow in the years to come.
Challenge
In all three arenas outlined above, a primary need is to effectively prevent contamination by undesirable microbial elements. Thus, medical research continues to work on compounds aimed at combating infection, industries involved in water filtration are seeking more effective ways for purifying water, and those requiring the ability to forestall water fouling are searching for improved methods. Silver is commonly used in filters and wound care. Because of its anti-microbial properties, silver particles are impregnated in wound-care dressings and carbon filters for purification, anti-fouling and killing bacteria on contact. While silver is clearly effective, its high cost limits amounts that can be used, thus impacting overall efficacy.
Solution
Nano-scale silver provides an excellent means of achieving significantly increased antimicrobial action, both in filters and wound dressings, while resolving the cost issue of current silver use. Because of its size, roughly 2-20 nanometers, the surface area exposing silver particles to water or the wound bed is dramatically increased. The nano silver also bonds to the material, eliminating the cost of replenishment, and does not impact effectiveness. QSI has developed a proven process for manufacturing nanoscale silver as well as active nano silver alloys, and several partnerships are in place to integrate QSI’s nano silver into currently used carbon filters; this will dramatically increase filter performance while significantly reducing its production cost.
QSI continues to scale up its automated production of nano silver, and is already capable of providing the quantities needed to supply existing markets for their next generation filters, membranes, and coatings. The company is also actively engaged in research and validation of nano silver efficacy in medical antimicrobial device and instrument applications. Once validation is completed and regulatory approvals have been obtained, QSI will enable a fundamental leap forward in advanced wound care.
